The Director's Circle!

 

Sean and I after the dress rehearsl!

I know many folks love March Madness. I do too. Seriously. I look forward to March Madness every year, and sometimes the madness spills into April. I am not talking about basketball! Confused you a bit, didn’t I? No, I am talking about theatre. It seems as if most schools and communities delve into theatre during the winter months to bring you brilliant pieces of theatre for March and April. My own calendar is dotted with shows…some are mine…but most are around the area.

And why theatre? Why even do theatre? What is the purpose? Anton Chekhov once said, “You should feel a flow of joy because you are alive. Your body will feel full of life. That is what you must give from the stage. Your life. No less. That is art: to give all you have.”

So many folks I know did theatre in high school or early years of community theatre as a young adult. Me too. I loved theatre in high school. I loved anything about getting on a stage! I kid around a bit saying I was once in the NFL. True story. The high school version of NFL is the National Forensic League. My biggest competitor in high school was Shelley Long. Of course, most younger people don’t even know who I am talking about anymore. (By the way, in case you are one of those, she starred in Cheers!) While we were in high school, we had no idea how our lives would spin. She went to Hollywood. I went to college. Sometimes I think back on those days of competition. She was always the one to beat…we took turns.

Those of you who have been a follower of this column know that I got the love of theatre from my dad. In his early years he was a great actor and contributor to the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre. I used to go with him to the rehearsals…hair up in pin curls, pajamas and a housecoat, and slippers. “You must be quiet,” he said. I always had a bit of a hard time being quiet, but I knew if I talked or made any commotion, I wouldn’t get to go back. It was marvelous. Of course, my parents didn’t send me with my dad so I would choose a life of performing. It was simply to give my mom some relief time.

Sitting in that dark theatre night after night and watching my dad was pure gold. Now I sit on the other side of the stage with Lydia, my assistant director. We have become such a team. We respect each other’s work and ideas. Always.

This past weekend we attended the show Arsenic and Old Lace at Gaslight Theatre in Kendallville. I love the show and I directed the show at Trine three years ago. One of the stars of the show (indeed, there were many) was Sean Carpenter. When Sean and I first met, I did not think I realized the talent he kept hidden. In Dracula he just had a bit part carrying lanterns and helping backstage. But Sean was the kind of guy that stepped in wherever and whenever needed. This past weekend Sean was the director of Arsenic in Kendallville. I was invited to the dress rehearsal with Lydia. We took my two Kathy friends and off we went.

Sean was wearing his Arsenic t-shirt. So was I, but a different one from our show. There were only the four of us at the dress rehearsal, so Sean sat with us. I watched the show with one eye and one eye on this new young director! It was hard for me to see a different cast and echoes of voices from my Trine students filled the air. Sean said it took a while to get those images out of his head too, but after a while he was able to see his cast.

After the dress rehearsal, the cast swarmed down upon us. (Well, there were only four of us!) We loved the show. I asked Sean, “So what do you prefer? Directing or acting?” He immediately replied, “Acting!” Nonetheless, Sean, you are now in the director’s circle.

So many shows are coming your way for March Madness. Go see them all, if you can. Students, community members, teachers all try to work their magic while you are there. It is never perfect. That is what live theatre is all about.

Congratulations, Sean, for a job well done!